Improvement in fire-kindlers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. FENN, OF MEDINA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT TO HENRY W. COLLINS, OF SAME PLACE.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,535, dated May 14, 1878; application filed April 26, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. FENN, of Medina, in the county of Medina and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Kindlers and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawing, which forms part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in fire-kindlers; and consists in a series of parallel pieces of wood, with a slit or partially-detached shaving formed thereon, in combination with cross-pieces or binders, and the whole covered with any combustible material, such as resin or the like, as hereinafter specified and claimed.

The object of my invention is to furnish a cheap and efficient means of kindling a fire.

In the drawing is represented a perspective view of my improved fire-kindler inverted.

A are the parallel pieces of wood, with a slit or partially-detached shaving, B, cut into them near the end, also with slots formed therein for the reception of the projections on the binder'O. The slots in the barsA are arranged in such a manner as that the projections on the binders 0 shall present to the slots in the bars A and fit into them snugly, so as to dispense with the use of nails or their equivalent for the purpose of holding them together. An important object attained in thus slotting the bars A so as to receive the projections on the cross-pieces O is, that it allows a free and uninterrupted passage to the draft through the intervening space between the parallel pieces A, whereby the combustion will be materially aided by the free passage of draft afforded.

B is a slit or partially-detachedshaving cut 4 into the bars near their ends.

By having this slit or shaving on .the parallel bars, it is obvious that the necessity for using paper or other like inflammable material in order to start the kindler is avoided, for the shaving formed as above described will ignite instantaneously upon coming in contact with fire, and the kindler will burn as freely andquickly as if started by burning paper or the like.

It will be apparent that I do not limit myself to the particular place of putting the said slit or shaving, for I may form it on either or both ends of the bar; or it may be formed on either or both ends of the binder or cross-piece; or I may form it on both the binder and bar with equally as good result, the object being to provide a means of igniting the kindler without the necessity of first furnishing paper or the like with which to start the kindler, which has been the case heretofore.

I also thoroughly coat mykindler with some combustible material, such as resin or the like, for the purpose of rendering it more susceptible to ignition, and also for the purpose of welding the parts together. What I claim is- In a fire-kindler, the combination of the bars A, having a slit or shaving, B, and slotted, as described',-with cross-pieces or binders C, said binders or cross-pieces having proj eotions made to fit the slots in the bars A, the whole coated with resin or the like, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD J. FENN.

; Witnesses:

WILLIs H. ALBRO, WILLIAM W. FITCH. 

